Mail box construction



Feb. 3, 1959 K. F. HEARD 2,872,103

MAIL BOX CONSTRUCTION File d Dec. 12, 1957 INVENTOR.

flTTOF/VEYS nited States Patent 2,872,103 MAIL Box CONSTRUCTION Kenneth F. Heard, St. Ansgar, Iowa Application December 12, 1957, Serial No. 702,365 2 Claims. c1. 231-35 My invention relates to mail boxes and more particularly to outdoor mail boxes of the rural type.

Still more specifically my invention relates to mail boxes of the type having an open front end, in combination with a cover therefor, said cover being provided with mounting means whereby it may be swung generally upwardly toward an open position, said cover in all positions of swinging movement being yieldingly biased toward engagement with the front end of the box.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described wherein the means for yieldingly biasing the cover toward the front end of the box comprises a coil tension spring secured to the top of the cover and to the top of the box adjacent the rear end thereof, and a rigid tubular member pivotally secured to the top of the box in common with the rear end of said spring for common swinging movements therewith, said tubular member encompassing said spring throughout the greater part of its length and having an elongated rigid name plate projecting upwardly therefrom.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described in further combination with a signal flag pivotally secured to the rear end portion of said box for swinging movements on a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said spring, said flag including an ofi'set stem portion engageable by the rear end portion of said name plate during upward swinging movements of the latter when the cover is opened to be moved thereby from an upright signaling position to a depending inoperative position.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class generally above described which is relatively inexpensive to produce, which has a minimum of working parts and which is extremely rugged and durable in construction.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of my novel box, some parts being broken away and some parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to 'Fig. 1 but showing a different position of some of the parts thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view in front end elevation;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig.5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety a mail box of more or less conventional design, the cross-sectionally arcuate top thereof being identified by the numeral 2, the opposite sides by the numeral 3, the rear wall by the numeral 4, and the open front end by the numeral 5. The front 2,872,103 l atented Feb. 3, 19,59

5 is provided with a cover 6 having an inwardly projecting marginal flange 7 which overlies the opposite sides 3 and the .arcuate top wall 2 when said cover 6 is in the closed position of Fig. 1. Secured to opposite sides 3 of the box 1 are upper and lower links 8 and 9, the former of which is relatively short. The inner ends of the links 8 are pivotally secured one each to an opposite side 3 of the box 1, as indicated at 10, preferably and as shown to one end of a rigid metal strap 11 which in turn is riveted or otherwise secured to a side wall 3. The front or outer ends of the links 8 are pivotally secured to opposite side portions of the cover 6, as indicated by the numeral 12.

Likewise, the inner ends of the links 9 are pivotally secured to opposite end portions of the metal straps 11, t

as indicated at 13; the outer ends thereof being pivotally secured as at 14 to opposite side portions of the cover 6 below the pivotal connections 12. Through the medium of the links 8 and 9, the cover 6 is swingable on a horizontal axis from the end closing position of Fig. 1 to the end open position of Fig. 2.

A coil tension spring 15 has its forward end hooked to the top of the cover 6, as indicated at 16, and has its rear end hooked over a horizontally disposed pivot pin 17 extending between upstanding spaced parallel flanges l8, rigidly secured to the arcuate top 2 of the box 1 adjacent the rear end 4 thereof. An elongated rigid tubular member 19 has its rear end also pivotally secured on the pivot pin 17. The tubular member 19, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, encompasses the coil spring 15 throughout the greater part of its length whereby common swinging movements are imparted thereto during opening and closing of the cover 6. Rigidly secured to and projecting upwardly from the rigid tubular member 19 is an elongated rigid name plate 20.

A signal flag, identified in its entirety by the numeral 21, has a lower stem portion 22 which is pivotally secured on a horizontal axis to the rear end 4 of the box 1, as indicated at 23. As shown in Fig. 1, the flag 21 has an offset upper stern portion 24 which is engaged by the rear end portion of the name plate 20 during upward swinging movements of the latter when the cover 6 is opened, said flag 21 being moved thereby from the upright signaling position of Fig. 1 to the depending inoperative position of Fig. 2.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be specifically understood that same may be capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A mail box having an -open front end, a cover for said front end, spaced upper and lower links pivotally secured at their inner ends to one side of said box and at their outer ends to a common side portion of said cover and mounting said cover for swinging movements from an end closing position to an end open position with the lower end portion of said cover in engagement with the upper end portion of said box, a spring secured at one end to the top of said cover and at its rear end to the top of the box adjacent the rear end thereof for swinging movements about a horizontal axis parallel to the axes of swinging movements of said links, the pivotal connections between said upper link and said box and cover being so arranged that said upper link is swung between opposite sides of dead center relationship with respect to the pivotal connection of said spring to said box, whereby said spring yieldingly urges said cover toward its closed position when said upper link is moved to one side of dead center and toward its open position when said upper link is moved to the opposite side of dead center, and a rigid tubular member secured to the top of the box in common with the rear endof said spring for common swinging movements therewith, said tubular member encompassing said spring throughout a greater part of its length and having an elongated rigid plate projecting upwardly therefrom.

2. The structure defined in claim 1' in further combination with a signal flag pivotally secured to the rear end portion of said box for swinging movements on a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said spring, said flag including an offset stem portion engageable by the rear end portion of said plate during upward swinging movements of the latter when the cover is opened to be moved thereby from an upright signaling position to a depending inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,578,486 Pedersen"; Dec. 11, 1951 2,673,682 Harrison Mar. 30, 1954 2,684,197 Babcock July 20, 1954 2,802,623 Meiling Aug. 13, 1957 2,811,306 Kalmoe Oct. 29, 19 57 

